"My beautiful Luminaria," Atlas said, his tone rich with quiet amusement as he brushed his fingers through Luminaria's marvelous blue hair. Each strand shimmered faintly in the light, silken against his hand.
"Though I would love to keep you on my lap like this, I still need to start with my mental training," he added, his voice dipping with a playful finality.
"Of course…" Luminaria replied softly, but her words carried a hint of hesitation. Her lips parted, then closed again as though she struggled to shape them. Inwardly, she wondered what way she should address him.
Her soul already felt bound, as if it truly belonged to him —as though he were her Master. Yet she did not want to make such an assumption aloud, not without his approval.
Atlas's grin widened knowingly, the sharpness of his teeth flashing as if he had plucked the thought directly from her mind. "Don't worry," he said smoothly, his tone dripping with certainty, "the title Master suits me perfectly."
Luminaria's cheeks ignited in another blush, the warmth spreading down her throat as though fire had blossomed beneath her skin. She stood to her feet with elegant poise, her gown shifting softly as she moved, then returned to her office chair.
Despite her grace, a quiet ache coiled within her —she already missed the steady warmth of his lap, the calm it brought, but she would never lower herself to complain. Not to him. Not to her Master.
And it was almost as if Atlas truly had reread her mind. He leaned down toward her, closing the distance without hesitation, and pressed a lingering kiss against her forehead. His lips were warm, his touch commanding, and the gesture sent a wave of comfort rippling through her essence.
"If you want to sit on my lap again," he murmured, his words deliberate, "then do something worthy for such a gift."
His voice lingered in her ears, an order wrapped in sweetness. Without another word, Atlas straightened, turned, and left the office, his presence retreating like a tide —but the heat he left behind in her chest would not fade so easily.
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Luminaria sat silently in her office chair, her delicate hands resting in her lap, but her thoughts swirled like a tempest. What can I do to gain Master's affection? Her heart throbbed with the question. Is there anything in existence worthy of my Master's affection?
Her lips parted as though to whisper her doubt, but instead, a spark ignited in her mind, flashing like sudden lightning. She rose to her feet with a sudden certainty, her blue eyes brightening with determination.
"Yes," she murmured to herself, conviction blooming in her voice, "she should help gain Master's affection."
Without hesitation, she lifted her hand and swept it gently through the air. The fabric of reality obeyed, a dimensional portal blooming into existence with radiant light. She stepped forward, vanishing from her office chamber in an instant.
On the other side, her feet touched fertile soil, warm and rich, carrying the vibrant hum of growth. She was now in the sub-realm of the Goddess of Earth and Fertility —Elizabeth.
Elizabeth, attuned to every vibration within her divine domain, immediately sensed the arrival of her mother. Without delay, she appeared before her, her presence radiant with life.
"Mother!!" Elizabeth cried, her voice a mixture of joy and longing. She flung herself forward, wrapping her arms around Luminaria with childlike enthusiasm.
Luminaria, though usually poised and reserved, softened in the embrace. She returned it wholeheartedly, her hands tightening around her daughter as if she could press all her love into that single moment.
When they finally released one another, Elizabeth gazed warmly into Luminaria's eyes. "How have you been, Mother?" she asked, her tone carrying both reverence and affection.
Luminaria's lips curved faintly at her daughter's devotion, but her heart was steady with her purpose. "I have been well, my dear Elizabeth," she replied gently. "But I did not come merely for greetings. I have come to ask a favor of you."
Elizabeth tilted her head curiously, her expression softening into one of attentiveness. "A favor? From me? Whatever it is, if it is within my power, I will gladly grant it."
Luminaria placed her hands delicately upon Elizabeth's shoulders, her gaze firm but affectionate.
"There is this one Deity who has recently become… my disciple," she said, her voice carefully chosen, masking the deeper truth in half-truths. "His name is Atlas, the Son of Fate. I would like you to assist me in his training."
Elizabeth blinked, surprised. "The Son of Fate is your disciple?" She had never once heard her mother speak of taking a disciple before —let alone the Son of Fate. The very thought seemed unprecedented.
"Yes," Luminaria continued smoothly, her voice carrying the weight of divine authority mixed with motherly persuasion. "Atlas possesses potential unlike any I have seen before. Already he has mastered the early forms of restoration arts. But what he lacks, you can give. I want you to teach him Seismic Sense."
Elizabeth's brows lifted slightly. "Seismic Sense? The perception of disaster before it manifests? The ability to predict calamities at their roots? That is not something I have ever shared outside my direct followers, Mother…"
Luminaria leaned closer, her eyes piercing with the intensity of her conviction. "That is why I am asking you. He is no ordinary student, Elizabeth. He is worthy of the knowledge. And… I believe with your guidance, his growth will be immeasurable."
Elizabeth hesitated, though her heart was easily swayed by her mother's voice. She placed her hand over Luminaria's and whispered, "If you deem him worthy, then I shall do as you ask. But tell me honestly, Mother —why him?"
Luminaria smiled softly, though deep within her chest was the burning truth —this was no gift for Atlas's sake, no gesture for a disciple. It was for her Master. Elizabeth would be the offering she would present, the shining token to prove her devotion.
For her Master, she would bring even her own daughter into his orbit.
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With only a few convincing words, Luminaria persuaded her daughter to come "train" Atlas. Together, they returned to Luminaria's sub-realm. Elizabeth remained in the living chamber, while Luminaria left to fetch Atlas, who was deep within his mental training inside the meditation chamber.
She found him seated in perfect composure, legs crossed, hands resting on his knees, eyes closed as if carved into tranquil stone. Yet, even in meditation, his awareness was sharp. Atlas sensed her presence instantly.
"What brings you here, Luminaria?" he asked without opening his eyes, his tone carrying a cool indifference.
"Master," she replied with measured reverence, "I have come to present a gift of gratitude… for opening my eyes."
Atlas's mind stirred. What could she possibly have to give? It hasn't even been two hours since her recreation…
"I hope this gift of yours is truly worth disturbing me during my training," he said at last, his eyes opening, glinting with restrained annoyance. Slowly, he rose to his feet.
The two exited the meditation chamber, and Luminaria led him through the marble-lined corridor toward the living chamber.
When they entered, Elizabeth's eyes shifted immediately toward Atlas. The moment their gazes met, her expression froze in a trance of pure astonishment. For the briefest flicker, Atlas swore he saw a glint of pink flash within her light-brown eyes.
Her gaze clung to him with an intensity that nearly bordered on worship. It wasn't until Luminaria's voice broke the silence that Elizabeth blinked and looked away.
"Atlas, this is Elizabeth," Luminaria introduced, her voice tinged with quiet pride. "From today onwards, she will teach you her Seismic Sense. It will be of tremendous benefit to you."
Atlas extended his hand, his voice unusually tempered with politeness. "Nice to meet you, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth placed her hand over his with a soft, almost trembling motion. Atlas lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss upon the back of her hand —a courtly gesture of a true gentleman.
Her cheeks flushed instantly, a warmth coloring her skin. "Nice to meet you as well," she stammered, her voice betraying the obvious truth: Elizabeth was already, without a shadow of a doubt, attracted to him. Even Atlas and Luminaria noticed it.
Luminaria's lips curved faintly with delight. To her, this was perfect. Elizabeth's behavior meant it would not take long before she, too, fell under Atlas's leash —just as she had.
Atlas, however, remained strangely indifferent to her. No spark of desire stirred within him, despite the undeniable beauty before him.
Why am I like this? he asked himself inwardly. Elizabeth —brown flowing hair, light-brown eyes, fair skin, a generous bust, and a clearly feminine figure visible even as she sat. She is undeniably beautiful…
So why am I not interested? His thoughts tightened in confusion.
"Elizabeth will be staying with us until you have at least mastered the early stages of Seismic Sense," Luminaria added smoothly, her eyes briefly flickering with hidden intent. "She has also agreed to let you use her as training for your Restoration Arts."
Atlas immediately understood the message behind Luminaria's words. Basically, she's gifting this woman to me. A good gift, I'm not going to lie…
"Mother, I never agreed to that—" Elizabeth began to protest, but to Atlas, her words blurred into nothing. The only sound that rang clearly in his ears was 'Mother.'
"Wait," Atlas interrupted sharply, his expression shifting, "Luminaria is your mother?"
Elizabeth turned to him, unbothered by the interruption, and spoke proudly, "Yes. Luminaria is my mother."
In that instant, something shifted within Atlas. A dark interest kindled in his chest. For whatever reason, hearing that Elizabeth was Luminaria's daughter awakened a new desire in him —not the desire of attraction, but of domination.
He did not want Elizabeth for love or lust; he wanted to break her, just as he had broken her mother, and leash her with his own hands.
The thought coursed through him like fire. Since Luminaria had taken him from his family, then it was only right —in his eyes —that he take Luminaria's family. All of them. The women would become his. The men… they would face only death.
Atlas's lips twisted into a mischievous grin. "As Luminaria mentioned, I would be delighted if you could assist me with my Restoration Arts training," he said, his tone laced with a calculated charm.
"Of course!" Elizabeth answered too quickly, her voice almost tumbling over itself. "I'll be happy to be of help. It's not like I have anything else to do."
Atlas studied her closely, his grin widening inwardly. She might be an even easier target than Luminaria…